Packages of glass in sheet form

ABSTRACT

A package of glass sheets comprises a stack of glass sheets arranged vertically. An L-shaped bracket is disposed partially around the stack with one of its arms underlying the bottom edge of each sheet of the stack and with its other arm extending up one of the vertical faces of the stack, and the stack is strapped to the bracket.

United States Patent 1 1 Andrews et al.

[54] PACKAGES OF GLASS IN SHEET FORM inventors: Brian Andrews, Orrell, near Wigan;

jninscimannznrinnngian, Rainhill, near Liverpool; Brian William Riley, Tarleton, near Preston, all of England Assignee: Pilkington Brothers Limited, Liverpool, England Filed: July 24, 1970 Appl. No.2 57,929

Foreign Application Priority Data July 28, I969 Great'Britain... ..37,86l/69 US. Cl. ..206/62 R, 206/65 B, 220/234 Int. Cl. ..B65d 85/48 Field of Search ..206/60 R, 60 A, 62 R, 65 B;

[4 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,738,058 3/1956 Hansen et al. ...2o6/62 R 3,231,084 1/1966 Kean, Sr. ..206/62 R 2,004,626 6/1935 Hann ..206 60 A 3,162,320 12/1964 Hitch et al ..220/23.4 3,416,652 12/1968 Almasy ..206/62 R 3,193,093 7/1965 Hansen ..206/62 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipma n Attorney-Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [57] ABSTRACT A package of glass sheets comprises a'stack of glass sheets arranged vertically. An L-shapcd bracket is disposed partially around the stack with one of its arms underlying the bottom edge of each sheet of the stack and with its other arm extending up one of the vertical faces of the stack, and the stack is strapped to the bracket.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Fignres 1969 Germany ..206/62 R PATENTEDJAN 9 197a SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEI] JAN 9 I975.

SHEET 3 BF 3 1 PACKAGES OF GLASS IN SHEET FORM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 of glass sheets and a method of packaging which is simpler and less expensive than the wooden cases used heretofore.

SUMMARY According to the invention a package of glass sheets comprises a stack of glass sheets arranged in vertical face-to-face relation, at least one rigid L-shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack with one of its arms underlying the bottom edge of each sheet of the Stack and with its other arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with one of the vertical faces of the stack, and strapping means securing said stack to said bracket in fixed relation therewith.

Preferably said other arm extends to at least substantially the full height of said one vertical face of the stack.

In one form of the invention two said stacks are disposed one above the other, the bracket or brackets being disposed partially around the stacks with one of its arms underlying the bottom edge of each sheet of the lower stack and with its other arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with aligned vertical faces of the two Stacks, and strapping means securing both said stacks to said bracket or brackets in fixed relation therewith. In this case, additional strapping means may encircle each stack individually.

The invention also includes a method of packaging glass sheets, comprising the steps of supporting a stack of glass sheets in vertical face-to-face relation by means of at least one rigid L-shaped bracket extending partially around the periphery of the stack with one of its arms underlying the bottom edge of each sheet of the stack and with its other arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with one of the vertical faces of the stack, and strapping said stack to said bracket in fixed relation therewith.

In one form of the invention the stack may be formed by adding each sheet in turn whilst the preceding sheets are supported by the bracket, the completed stack being subsequently strapped to said bracket.

In another form of the invention the stack of sheets may be preassembled before it is supported by the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, by way of example, of a package, comprising a stack of glass sheets mounted on a pair of support brackets;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the support brackets of the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective viewof one of the edge protector units of the package shown in FIG. 1; and a FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified package in.- cluding two stacks of glass sheets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a package of glass sheets comprises two brackets 1 of L-shape positioned in aligned spaced relationship. The brackets support upon the upper surfaces of their generally horizontal arms 2, a stack 3 of glass Sheets 4. The sheets 4 are arranged in vertical face-to-face relation and the stack is of generally rectangular cross-section. The horizontal arms 2 of the brackets 1 are long enough to extend under the entire thickness of the Stack 3 so that each of the Sheets 4 is supported on the arms 2. The other arm 5 of each bracket 1 is generally vertical and extends in parallel relation to the outer face of the adjacent end 7 sheet of the stack, to the full height of the stack. If

desired however the arm 5 may be shorter than the full height of the stack. The arm 5 of each bracket 1 is of channel cross section while the arm 2 is of hollow rectangular cross section. The arms 5 are provided with padding 25 to prevent damage to the adjacent sheet 4. Padding 24 is also provided on each horizontal arm 2, not only to prevent damage to the edges of the sheets 4 resting thereon, but also to ensure that the sheets will not readily slip relative to the arms. The padding 24, 25 on the arms 2, 5 respectively may be of rubber or felt. To prevent damage to the faces of adjacent sheets 4, as a result of relative displacement between the sheets, the sheets are interleaved with, e.g., newsprint. Alternatively, powder material may be applied between adjacent faces of the sheets in known manner.

Bands or straps 9, 10, 14, conveniently metal bands, are used to hold the stack 3 upon the brackets 1 and to maintain its shape. Wherever one ofthese straps passes over an edge of the stack 3, a protector unit 6 is inserted between the stack 3 and the strap;

Each protector unit (one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 3) comprises a rigid corner piece 7 and a slightly larger flexible comer piece 8 of packing material.

Alternatively each protector unit may comprise a comer piece of compressed laminated cardboard. The protector units assist in avoiding chaffing and damage to the straps and/or the edges of the glass sheet, and in use thepacking piece 8 is disposed in contact with the stack with the rigid corner piece 7 between the packing piece 8 and the strap. The comer piece 7 has outwardly extending ribs 20 spaced apart to receive the strap therebetween and to prevent the strap from sliding off the corner piece.

To bind the glass sheets 4 into a composite unit, i.e., the stack 3, a strap 9 passes entirely around the sheets. The Strap being positioned at the centers of the longer edges of the sheets. If desired, more than one strap 9 may be used to provide additional rigidityto the stack,

the straps being situated in the most convenient locations longitudinally of the stack.

The stack is secured to the brackets l by further straps 10. These straps 10, in this example, extend between and around pins 1 1,12 provided at the ends of v protected from damage if two packages are stacked one on top of the other. Instead of the straps 10 passing around the pins 11 and 12, each strap may completely encircle the stack 3 and the respective bracket 1, the arms 2, of the bracket 1 being of channel as described above or, alternatively, of hollow section for this purpose.

Still further straps 14 encircle the stack 3, horizontally, at suitable positions. These straps 14 serve to prevent the sheets 4 from moving lengthways and also to hold the brackets 1 in the desired locations. In order to achieve this the straps pass through loops 15 fastened to the back of the arms 5, of the brackets 1. These loops 15 also locate the straps 14 at the desired heights. In some cases however the loops 15 may be omitted. v

A prong 1 6 protrudes from the back end of the arm 2 of each bracket land a correspondingly shaped socket or aperture 17 is provided in the front end of the arm 2. Thus, in use, two packages may be disposed side-byside with the prongs 16 of one package inserted into the apertures 17 of-the other package, hence assisting to tie the packages together, e.g., during transportation of the packages.

In this example, the arm 2 of eachbracket 1 is provided with lugs 18 at its front end to assist in fastening the package e.g. to a shipping container. It will be appreciated however that such lugs can be omitted if desired.

The 'arms 2 of the brackets 1 space the package above floor level at a sufficient height to permit the insertion of a lifting device, e.g. the forks of a fork lift truck, beneath the stack 3, whereby the package may be lifted thereby. Alternatively, if the arms 2 are not of a sufficient depth for this purpose, wooden blocks or beams (not shown) may be secured to the undersides of the arms 2 to raise the stack 3 to thenecessary height.

In operation, the brackets 1 are aligned for reception of the glass sheets 4. Then the stack 3 is formed by arranging each sheet 4 in turn on the arms' 2 of the brackets 1, adjacent sheets being interleaved with, e.g., newsprint or powder material. When the stack is complete, the sheets of the stack are strapped together by the strap or straps 9. The stack 3 is then strapped to the brackets, first by the straps 14 and then by the straps 10. The resultant package of glass sheets may then be lifted by a fork lift truck on to a lorry for transportation.

Alternatively, the glass sheets 4 may be formed into the stack 3 and then the stack loaded on to the arms 2 of the brackets l, the stack 3 being encircled, by the strap 9 before or after it is supported by the brackets.

The modified form of package shown in FIG. 4, comprises'two stacks 21, 22 supported one on-top of the other by the, pair of brackets 1, with spacer wooden blocks 23 disposed between the two stacks. The vertical arms 5 of the brackets I extend to the full height,.or substantially the full height, of the two stacks 21, 22 and the intervening spacer blocks 23. a

In this modified form of package, each stack 21, 22 is individually encircled by two straps 9 spaced apart longitudinally of the sheets 4 of the stack. Also, after the stacks 21, 22 are supported by the horizontal arms 2 of j the brackets l, bothstacks are strappedas a unit to the brackets l by the straps 10. Each stack is then encircled, horizontally, by a single strap 14.

As before, each stack may be formed on the brackets 1, each sheet being added in turn until first the lower stack 22 and then the upper stack 21 is complete. A]-

ternatively, each stack 21, 22 may be preassembled and then loaded on to the brackets ,1.

ln practice, this modified form of package would be face relation and defining top and bottom stack faces; at least one rigid L-shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack and comprising:

a first arm underlying and supporting the full extent of the bottom face of said stack; and

a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end sheet of the stack;

and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stack to said bracket in fixe relation therewith;

said strapping means comprising a band extending around the bracket and the periphery of the stack which is unencompassed by the bracket wherein said band encompasses the stack; and said bracket arms being formed of channel section to define grooves receiving the band. 2. A package of glass sheets comprising: a stack of glass sheets arranged in vertical face-toface relation and defining top and bottom stack faces; at least one rigid, generally L-shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack and comprisa first arm underlying the bottom face of said stack; said first arm including a generally horizontal fiat portion underlying and supporting the full extent of the bottom face of said stack, and a plurality of spaced portions extending downwardly from said horizontal flat portion to define strap-receiving passage means; and

a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation withthe outer vertical face of one end sheet of the stack;

and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stack to said bracket in fixed relation therewith; q

said strapping means comprising a strap extending through said strap-receiving passage means and around at least that part of the periphery of the stack which is unencompassed by the bracket in a manner securing'said stack to said bracket, said strap extending: v

a. from said second arm and projecting across the top face of said stack in generally parallel relation to said first arm, and

b. from said first arm and projecting upwardly along the outer vertical face of the other end sheet of the stack in generally parallel relation to said second arm.

v 3. A package according to claim 2, wherein said second arm extends to at least substantially the full height of said outer vertical face.

4. A package according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of each arm of the bracket is faced with padding material.

5. A package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bracket includes two rigid, generally L- shaped brackets spaced apart longitudinally of the ditional strapping means encircle the stack in two planes at right angles to each other.

8. A package according to claim 1, including padding means maintaining the strapping means out of contact with the edges of the glass sheets. V

9. A package according to claim 1, including means to space the package above floor level, which means enable a lifting device to be inserted beneath the stack, to lift the package.

10. A package according to claim 9, wherein said means comprise said first arm of the bracket.

11. A package according to claim 1, wherein said first arm of the bracket has plug means at one end and corresponding socket means at the other end, whereby the plug means of the bracket of one package may be inserted into the socket means of the bracket of another package to locate the packages side-by-side- 12. A package of glass sheets according to claim 1 wherein said band means encompasses the entire periphery of said stack.

13. A package of glass sheets according to claim 1 I and further including:

at least one rigid L -shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack and comprising:

a first arm underlying the bottom face of said stack;

a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end sheet of the stack; and

band-securing pins fixed to the extreme ends of said first and second arms of the bracket;

and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stack to said bracket in fixed v relation therewith; said strapping means comprising a band means extending between and around said band securing pins and around at least that part of the periphery of the stack which is unencompassed by the bracket.

15.A ack eof las h 't' om risin upper and i wer tac g o f g ss s eets, the sheets of each stack being arranged in vertical face-to-face relation and defining top and bottom faces for each stack;

at least one spacer block means being positioned on the top face of said lower stack in supporting relationship with the bottom face of said upper stack;

at least one rigid, generally L-s'haped bracket being disposed partiallyaround the stacks and comprismg: a first arm underlying the bottom face of said lower stack, and I a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end sheet of each stack;

and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stacks to said bracket in fixed relation therewith;

sad strapping means comprising a band means extending at least:

a. from said second arm and projecting across the V top face of said upper stack in generally parallel relation to said first arm, and

b. from said first arm and projecting upwardly 

1. A package of glass sheets comprising: a stack of glass sheets arranged in vertical face-to-face relation and defining top and bottom stack faces; at least one rigid L-shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack and comprising: a first arm underlying and supporting the full extent of the bottom face of said stack; and a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end sheet of the stack; and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stack to said bracket in fixed relation therewith; said strapping means comprising a band extending around the bracket and the periphery of the stack which is unencompassed by the bracket wherein said band enCompasses the stack; and said bracket arms being formed of channel section to define grooves receiving the band.
 2. A package of glass sheets comprising: a stack of glass sheets arranged in vertical face-to-face relation and defining top and bottom stack faces; at least one rigid, generally L-shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack and comprising: a first arm underlying the bottom face of said stack; said first arm including a generally horizontal flat portion underlying and supporting the full extent of the bottom face of said stack, and a plurality of spaced portions extending downwardly from said horizontal flat portion to define strap-receiving passage means; and a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end sheet of the stack; and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stack to said bracket in fixed relation therewith; said strapping means comprising a strap extending through said strap-receiving passage means and around at least that part of the periphery of the stack which is unencompassed by the bracket in a manner securing said stack to said bracket, said strap extending: a. from said second arm and projecting across the top face of said stack in generally parallel relation to said first arm, and b. from said first arm and projecting upwardly along the outer vertical face of the other end sheet of the stack in generally parallel relation to said second arm.
 3. A package according to claim 2, wherein said second arm extends to at least substantially the full height of said outer vertical face.
 4. A package according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of each arm of the bracket is faced with padding material.
 5. A package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bracket includes two rigid, generally L-shaped brackets spaced apart longitudinally of the stack, the respective arms of each bracket lying in the same plane.
 6. A package according to claim 1, including additional strapping means encircling the stack of glass sheets to maintain the sheets in neat alignment one with each other.
 7. A package according to claim 6, wherein said additional strapping means encircle the stack in two planes at right angles to each other.
 8. A package according to claim 1, including padding means maintaining the strapping means out of contact with the edges of the glass sheets.
 9. A package according to claim 1, including means to space the package above floor level, which means enable a lifting device to be inserted beneath the stack, to lift the package.
 10. A package according to claim 9, wherein said means comprise said first arm of the bracket.
 11. A package according to claim 1, wherein said first arm of the bracket has plug means at one end and corresponding socket means at the other end, whereby the plug means of the bracket of one package may be inserted into the socket means of the bracket of another package to locate the packages side-by-side.
 12. A package of glass sheets according to claim 1 wherein said band means encompasses the entire periphery of said stack.
 13. A package of glass sheets according to claim 1 and further including: a rigid member positioned on said top face beneath said band means, and extending generally parallel to said first arm; the upper surface of said rigid member being provided with groove means for receiving said band means; said rigid member further including means adapted to support an additional stack of glass sheets thereon.
 14. A package of glass sheets comprising: a stack of glass sheets arranged in vertical face-to-face relation and defining top and bottom stack faces; at least one rigid L-shaped bracket disposed partially around the stack and comprising: a first arm underlying the bottom face of said stack; a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end shEet of the stack; and band-securing pins fixed to the extreme ends of said first and second arms of the bracket; and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stack to said bracket in fixed relation therewith; said strapping means comprising a band means extending between and around said band securing pins and around at least that part of the periphery of the stack which is unencompassed by the bracket.
 15. A package of glass sheets comprising: upper and lower stacks of glass sheets, the sheets of each stack being arranged in vertical face-to-face relation and defining top and bottom faces for each stack; at least one spacer block means being positioned on the top face of said lower stack in supporting relationship with the bottom face of said upper stack; at least one rigid, generally L-shaped bracket being disposed partially around the stacks and comprising: a first arm underlying the bottom face of said lower stack, and a second arm extending upwardly in parallel relation with the outer vertical face of one end sheet of each stack; and strapping means operatively associated with said bracket to secure the stacks to said bracket in fixed relation therewith; sad strapping means comprising a band means extending at least: a. from said second arm and projecting across the top face of said upper stack in generally parallel relation to said first arm, and b. from said first arm and projecting upwardly along the outer vertical face of the other end sheet of each stack in generally parallel relation to said second arm.
 16. A package according to claim 15, including additional strapping means encircling each stack individually. 